Maxxis announces details of new Maxxcross MX-ST

Maxxis has announced details of its new Maxxcross MX-ST, the new motocross tyre designed solely to deliver championship-winning performance, thanks to an extensive development and testing programme carried out by seven-time AMA Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath.

Maxxis – sponsor of both MXGP 2019 and this year’s British Motocross Championship – worked with the ‘King of Supercross’ to develop a tyre that boasts a new, lightweight, pliable carcass design yet strong construction and a uniquely-spaced tread block pattern that delivers superior stability, drive, and comfort, plus prolonged tyre life.

The high levels of performance come thanks to a new ply material, which exhibits lower elongation and stronger resistance to external forces and resistance to deformation, resulting in greater cornering stability, braking, and jumping performance. The new sidewall provides stronger vertical stiffness with a longer apex and a harder compound to better absorb energy when landing.

To further optimise stiffness, and in turn promote better grip, especially on starts, the new compound uses reinforced carbon nanoparticles in the manufacturing process. As a result, grip is up 19% over the previous generation Maxxcross IT, with stiffness increased by 33% and hardness by 4%.

On the front, a new tread block design features functional polygon half-blocks, which reduce chunking and increase braking grip and stability, with forces equally and smoothly distributed. The periodic arrangement of half-blocks and shoulder blocks also lend themselves to predictable turning and help reduce oversteer.

Superior drive and traction comes from a new tread pattern design on the rear, which uses 33 central blocks – reduced from the conventional 36. The tyre retains 36 middle blocks – with sharp angles to help them bite in soft terrain – and 36 shoulder blocks, all of which combine to bring about better turning performance and increased grip and acceleration.

Aiding Maxxis’ quest to deliver a tyre that gives top-level and amateur motocross riders alike the confidence and feel they need to push to their limits was seven-time AMA Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath. McGrath, who earned to the nickname “King of Supercross’ in the 1990s, was instrumental in the tyre’s development, testing various iterations back-to-back against competitors until the MX-ST gave him a clear advantage in racing conditions.

Jeremy McGrath said, “I’ve been working on the new MX-ST with Maxxis for the last few years and honestly a lot of effort has gone into it, and what we’ve come up with is a compound that is pretty amazing. It took us a while, but the team at Maxxis did a great job, and we’ve struck gold really. The compound and the compliance of the tyre is great. Obviously there are a lot of factors that go into a great motocross tyre, like the strength of the sidewall and the softness of the carcass, you know, you don’t want any roll when you’re braking, plus you want the traction and durability on the rear, and honestly we’ve struck gold with this tyre. I have so many years of experience, I’ve tested hundreds of tyres, but what Maxxis are doing right now is leading edge stuff.”

Derek McMartin, Maxxis International UK managing director, added, “The new MX-ST has been designed and developed with one goal in mind, and that is to provide higher levels of performance, across the board, than our rivals, and with with input and expertise of Jeremy we have been able to achieve that. The focus was on every area and every aspect, from braking stability and turning performance to traction and corner exit performance, as well as energy absorption when landing and even the rate of wear. It’s a big step forward not only for us, but a step forward that will be felt and enjoyed by riders.”

The new Maxxis Maxxcross MX-ST is currently available in 80/100-21 and 110/90-19, with an RRP of £133 a pair.